Page 17

As I pull up alongside him, he doesn’t look over but keeps his chin tucked, arms folded in on himself. He’s so stupidly underdressed for being out in snow like this. I don’t know if I want to squeeze him tight or slap him senseless.

Winding down the window, I let out a long exhale when I see him stumble. Yeah. Drunk off his ass and walking to the middle of nowhere. That’s about the worst idea he’s probably ever had.

“Need a ride, cowboy?” I call out, and he lifts his head, blinking owlishly at me.

His lips are blue. The moron.

Slowing to a stop, I keep both hands on the wheel, but my heart hammers with hopefulness and an ache to be near him. I really fucking hope he gets in, but also, what the hell does this mean and what am I doing?

I just ditched my sister to chase after her ex.

Brad shivers on the sidewalk, staring at me with bleary eyes as if his brain is sluggishly trying to put things together. But then he moves. He climbs in my truck, fumbling a little, and there’s fresh powder covering him everywhere. As he slams the door behind him, the seat and footwell resemble an exploded snow globe. Though I can’t be mad. I’m just … relieved.

“M-my wh-white kn-knight, huh?” His teeth chatter.

“Something like that.” I put the window back up and turn the heat as high as it’ll go. “You got a death wish?”

He makes a whining noise and covers his face with his fingers. “I got a crush.” Then he leans back and slides his hat over his face. “But shhh, don’t tell him.”

My heart flutters and a grin tugs at my lips.

“Okay, deal.” Hiding my smile, I put the truck in drive. “Where am I taking you?”

Nerves race in upon asking, because obviously, our options are limited. I can’t very well take him back to my sister’s house. We have to go to his place, but I’m not so sure he’ll want me hanging around. Even though I really fucking want to, I also know there are way too many complicating factors.

He slaps a hand against his suit jacket, numb fingers patting his chest in search of his phone until eventually he pulls it out. Squinting like a pirate at the facial recognition, he unlocks it and then hands it over. “There’s the GPS pin thingy.”

I shake my head, tapping with one thumb until I find the GPS and his home address. Christ, he was gonna try to walk all the way out there? He’d have ended up as headline news. Cowboy Icicle Discovered Buried Beneath Three Feet of Snow.

Brad slumps against the door, and after we’ve been driving for a while, I assume he’s gone to sleep. Instead, he mutters in a voice that’s a little slurred, “You’re so hot.” He pouts. “Why you gotta have those pretty eyes? You don’t even look like her.” His drunken sigh is adorable.

“Guess she takes after our mom. I got my dad’s genes.”

“I don’t think your dad’s jeans would look half as good on that ass.” Brad flops his head to the side, cowboy hat tipped forward over his brow while he stares at me from beneath the brim. “You could bounce a quarter off that thing, y’know.”

The tips of my ears glow red hot. I’m not used to having anyone talk to me like this. I’m not used to someone unreservedly wanting me … sexually.

My sloppy drunk passenger, and intense fascination, doesn’t care that I’m stunned into silence. Now that he’s warmed up a little, his mouth starts running. Of course, Brad is talkative, even when he’s four sheets to the wind.

“Why did I waste my time, huh? I’m out here being the nice guy. The sucker being the best boyfriend I could be. I shoulda just manwhored my way through this year.”

I glance at him. My fingers tighten around the wheel.

“This …” He jabs at his chest with a thumb. “Too much romantic bullshit in here. Shoulda known I’d be the side character, gettin’ cheated on. No offense, since you’re like womb spawn buddies.” Waving a hand at me, he huffs in despair.

The GPS pings at me to make a turn, leading up a very long and narrow forested laneway. Eventually, we pull up to what looks more like a vacation cabin than student quarters. This far up the hillside, it wouldn’t look out of place as a ski chalet.

“C’mon. Let’s get you inside.” I chuckle when he whimpers that he doesn’t want to have to move as I cross the hood to his side.

“Are you a cuddler? Bet you give good cuddles.” He prods and squeezes my biceps after I open his door for him.

“You betcha.” I can’t help continuing to grin. Even though I doubt he’ll remember any of this tomorrow and he might never want to see me again, I get to have this cute side of Brad for a night. And I guess that will maybe have to do.

“Don’t move, cuddle boy.” He bends down and ransacks the base of a pot plant next to the front door, almost falling on his ass while turning over stones. Finally straightening up, while bumping into me, he triumphantly waves a key.

“Want me to do it?” I ask.

“I want you to do lots of things.” He stumbles against my shoulder, and I pull him against my side as I take charge of the key and open the door. Not at all nervous that I’m going home with a guy for the very first time. “Want you to do things. That means sex things.” The exaggerated whisper he hisses out leaves me biting my bottom lip to stifle a laugh.